ANDHRA PRADESH

Andhra Pradesh: ‘59% found to have Covid antibodies in sero-survey’

The recent sero-survey conducted by the Andhra Pradesh health department in April has found that nearly 59% of those surveyed had developed antibodies against Covid-19.
Of the 46,991 Covid-19 samples extracted from the general population, 27,869 samples turned out to be positive for antibodies. According to experts, this can be corroborated by the fact that the state recorded a 25-30% case positivity rate for several days in the second wave.

The urban population was found to be more exposed to the disease than their rural counterparts. While the survey projected antibodies against the Sars-CoV-2 virus in about 62% urban males and 66% urban females, it was 56.1% in rural males and 57.6% in rural females.

The sero conversion rate in the three different vaccinated groups is over 77%. The officials conducted the survey on nearly 6,300 people who have already received two vaccine doses.
Altogether, 78.8% of the samples taken from rural females in West Godavari turned to be positive for the novel coronavirus. Similarly, 78.5% of the urban female study subjects were found to have developed antibodies against the disease in Chittoor district.

The earlier state-wide sero survey conducted by the AP health department, in two phases, found that about 20% of the 5.4 crore population of the state developed antibodies for the SARS-CoV-2, the Covid-19 causing virus.

INTERNATIONAL

Clash between India and China – Galwan Valley

In the first week of May, there was a minor clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the no-patrolling zone at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.

The valley refers to the land located between the steep mountains that buffet the Galwan River.

The source of this river is located in Aksai Chin on the Chinese side of LAC ant it flows from the east to Ladakh, where it is connected to the Shyok River on the Indian side of LAC.

This valley is strategically located between Ladakh and Aksai Chin in the west and the east (currently controlled by China).

The Shyok river and the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulet Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road are located at its western end.

Agreement between Tehran and International Atomic Energy Agency

Iran stated that a three-month monitoring agreement between Tehran and the IAEA had expired, and that the IAEA’s access to images from inside some Iranian nuclear sites would be terminated. Iran had started up advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges, in violation of its commitments under a troubled 2015 nuclear deal, just days after the start of talks to save the deal.

Mandatory: To serve as the world’s central intergovernmental forum for nuclear-related scientific and technical cooperation.

It works to make nuclear science and technology safe, secure, and peaceful.

It was founded as an autonomous organisation by its own international Treaty, the IAEA Statute, but it reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.

Vesak Day is on 26th May

Vesak Day 2021 will be held on May 26th all over the world. Vesak Day, the full moon day is the holiest day for Buddhists in the world.

On this day, Buddha Shakyamuni became enlightened. The United Nations commemorates this day every year.

The United Nations has been celebrating this day since 2000. The resolution for celebrating Vesak day was passed in the year 1999.

The International Vesak Summit is being organized since 2004. Held in Vietnam in 2019. Till now, the summit has been held 11 times in Thailand, 3 times in Vietnam, and 1 time in Sri Lanka.

In 1950, the World Buddhist Association held in Sri Lanka officially confirmed the decision to celebrate Vesak Day as the birthday of the Buddha for the first time. Buddhist leaders from many countries attended the meeting.

NATIONAL

Subodh Kumar Jaiswal takes charge as CBI director

Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, a 1985 batch IPS officer serving as CISF DG, on Wednesday took charge as the CBI director.

The Central Bureau of Investigation was working without a regular chief for over three months after Rishi Kumar Shukla completed his two-year tenure on February 3.

Jaiswal, ex-Maharashtra DGP and former Mumbai top cop, was the seniormost officer in the panel.

Panel of state ministers to examine valuation of services by casinos, online gaming for GST

The government has set up a panel of state ministers for better valuation of services of casinos, online gaming portal and race courses for levying goods and services tax (GST).

The seven-member panel, convened by Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, will also examine whether any change is required in the legal provision for better means of valuation of these services.

It will also examine the administration of such valuation provisions and if an alternative means of valuation is recommended.

The panel would also look into the impact of such valuation on other similarly placed services like lottery.

Biomass Use in Thermal Power Plants – A National Mission

The Ministry of Power has decided to establish a National Mission to promote the use of biomass in coal-fired thermal power plants.

Increase the level of co-firing from the current 5% to higher levels in order to have a greater share of carbon neutral power generation from thermal power plants.

Conduct R&D in boiler design to handle the higher levels of silica and alkalis in biomass pellets.

To make it easier to overcome constraints in the supply chain of bio mass pellets and agro- residue, as well as their transport to power plants.

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